John McKinney Enters L.A. City Attorney Race Just Before Deadline

John McKinney, a prosecutor with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office for 30 years, announced his candidacy for Los Angeles City Attorney on March 24, 2026. McKinney’s campaign focuses on public safety, neighborhood protection, and a critique of the current administration’s fiscal management regarding civil payouts.

McKinney filed for the race at the beginning of March 2026, shortly before the filing deadline. He is seeking the office ahead of the California Primary Election scheduled for June 2, 2026.

Fiscal Management and Civil Payouts

A central pillar of McKinney’s platform is the reduction of city expenditures on civil payouts. He noted that while the City Council allocated $87 million in the budget for such costs, Los Angeles is on the hook for $320 million for the current fiscal year.

McKinney attributed these figures to poor litigation strategy and argued that the current City Attorney, who took office in 2023, lacks the necessary trial experience to effectively manage these cases.

To address these financial losses, McKinney proposed the implementation of an aggressive risk management program. His strategy involves defending the city against frivolous lawsuits while settling more serious claims early to avoid multimillion-dollar verdicts.

He also criticized the current practice of hiring outside private firms to handle cases. McKinney pointed out that the City Attorney’s office employs nearly 500 attorneys, suggesting that farming out work to private lawyers is an unnecessary expense.

Professional Background and Experience

McKinney joined the L.A. County District Attorney’s Office in 1997 after passing the California Bar. Over a career spanning nearly three decades, he has prosecuted a wide range of violent crimes.

His professional assignments have included the Special Victims Unit, Hardcore Gang Prosecutions, and Major Crimes. He has served in the Major Crimes unit for the past 13 years.

Currently, McKinney heads the office’s bureau of specialized prosecutions. In this capacity, he oversees the office’s entire juvenile division as well as cases involving sex crimes and gang homicides.

One of his notable cases was the prosecution of Eric Holder Jr. For the 2019 killing of rapper and Grammy-award winning artist Nipsey Hussle. Holder was convicted of first-degree murder in 2022.

Campaign Priorities and Endorsements

McKinney’s campaign is built on several key pillars aimed at restoring confidence in the criminal justice system and improving urban safety:

• Improving public safety and neighborhood protection.
• Increasing support for law enforcement.
• Ensuring the law is applied fairly, consistently, and with integrity.
• Addressing homelessness and preparing the city for major upcoming events, including the World Cup, Olympics, and Super Bowl.

The candidacy has received endorsements from former District Attorneys Steve Cooley and Jackie Lacey.

I am running for LA City Attorney to make public safety and neighborhood protection the top priority in this election. I will challenge the status quo to ensure the law is applied fairly, consistently, and with integrity. Our citizens deserve nothing less.

John McKinney